Many homeowners are drawn to the variable shades of copper that seem in a day-to-day state of flux. Paul Sacco, owner of Copperhead Sinks in Dallas, calls the ever-changing hues of copper a "living finish" that evolves over time as the metal oxidates.

In fact, most copper sinks sold today are dark because the effort and elbow grease needed to keep copper shiny is more maintenance than many homeowners want to endure.

Sacco equates the rising popularity of copper to where stainless was 10 to 12 years ago as steel began a climb up the popularity charts.

"Pretty soon you'll see a lot more darker finishes like copper on the market," said Sacco, who operates a sink shop in Mexico where more than 400 designs of copper bath, kitchen and vanity sinks are created.

People have warmed to a rich Tuscan look that spills over into Mediterranean and Southwest influences as well, he said.

Sacco says copper is usually hammered, bent or pounded into shape by hand. The surface is rarely smooth, but that can be a plus. Unlike many sinks of other materials where a scratch or dent sticks out like sore thumb, minor flaws or scrapes in copper quickly oxidize and blend in with the surrounding metal.

But copper has other innate qualities beyond beauty. The acids in copper make its surface naturally antibacterial. Harmful bacteria such as e-coli can't survive more than a few hours on untreated copper. The healthful advantage is lost, however, if homeowners unnecessarily seal the surface with lacquer or other commercial sealants.

Sacco said sales of copper sinks have gone up from 40 percent to 60 percent per month as interior designers and home magazines tout the upside of copper in the home.

Prices of copper houseware once reflected limited availability through distributors or ultra-exclusive showrooms. Bath sinks were $800, but now prices have dropped to the $400 range, or roughly the same as a designer or high-end porcelain sink.